Nintendo set to embrace mobile games, but only to promote itself

As the rise of gaming on iOS and Android has posed significant threats to the popularity of its own mobile gaming products, Nintendo will reportedly develop games for smartphones and tablets. While that's great news to some, don't expect to see Mario racing across your iPad any time soon.

According to Japanese newspaper Nikkei, Nintendo plans to produce mini-games that are meant to drive consumers back to the very products they have ignored. The plan calls for Nintendo to develop simple games that draw attention to its existing titles and then encourage someone to switch to a Wii U or 3DS to gain the full experience. If someone enjoys playing a small portion of a game, he or she might be motivated to spend money to have yet another device in order to enjoy the full version of that game. Well, at least that's what Nintendo believes will happen.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently said during the company's earnings call that it does not plan to heed calls to release iOS games featuring its popular titles like Super Mario and Donkey Kong. The mini games may be a way to gain attention, but Nintendo will still have the difficult challenge of convincing consumers to purchase a second device to play games. The appeal of mobile gaming for most modern consumers is that it takes place on the device that they already carry.

"Nikkei's article contains information previously stated by Mr. Iwata during past press conferences, including statements which relate to Nintendo's willingness to make use of smart devices to promote our products.

"However during such past announcements Mr. Iwata has also stated that Nintendo's intention is not to make Nintendo software available on smart devices and as such, we can confirm that there are no plans to offer minigames on smartphone devices."